Everyone eats. But how much do we really know about what we eat? Playful food sprites take readers on a diverting and historical culinary adventure in Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments, the second in Victoria Grace Elliott's middle-grade graphic nonfiction Yummy series.
Peri, Fee, and Fada "love exploring food history!" The sprites amuse and delight as Peri explores the legends behind the foods, Fee guests as historical figures, and Fada runs the Science Lab, explaining "how milk becomes cheese, why gelatin jiggles, and more." The sprites delve into how foods became popular, the ways they travel the globe, and the background of some famous chefs and cookbooks. As Peri and friends travel through six culinary history chapters, they discuss cheeses, pizza, pickles, sodas, "easy food" (the modern era of easy home cooking), and gelatin, sharing simple recipes along the way.
Tasty is an inventive work of kids' nonfiction. Elliott uses the graphic format to create a book that is equal parts history, trivia, and cookbook, and entertains as much as it informs. The author's sprites are charming and funny and keep the book moving forward. Elliott's nuanced exploration uses food to bridge cultures, showcasing the similarities in a wide range of global cuisines. Included recipes are simple enough for young chefs, and the story may inspire them to seek out more. Young readers and their foodie caretakers will almost certainly love learning all about their favorite Tasty treats. --Kyla Paterno, freelance reviewer